Pusoy (Chinese Poker) Rules: How to Arrange Your 13 Cards

In the Philippines, Pusoy usually means the 13-card arranging game known internationally as Chinese poker. (A different shedding game, often called Pusoy Dos, uses similar hand rankings but plays very differently; this guide covers the 13-card arranging version.) There is no bluffing and very little betting during the hand. Your skill is in how you split thirteen cards into three poker hands. That makes it a great game for players who like puzzles more than poker faces.

Scoring bonuses (“royalties”) and special hands vary by group and by app. Confirm the table’s rules before you play.

The setup

Pusoy is usually played by two to four players with a standard 52-card deck. With four players, every card is dealt: each player receives 13 cards. Each player privately arranges those cards into three hands:

• Front (top): 3 cards
• Middle: 5 cards
• Back (bottom): 5 cards

When everyone is ready, the hands are revealed and compared row by row against each opponent: front against front, middle against middle, back against back.

The one rule you must never break

Your back hand must be equal to or stronger than your middle hand, and your middle hand must be equal to or stronger than your front hand. If you arrange them in the wrong order, your hand is fouled (often called “mis-set” or “sablay”) and you typically lose all three rows to every opponent. Always double-check your order before you lock in.

Hand rankings

The five-card rows use standard poker rankings, from strongest to weakest:

The 3-card front hand can only be three of a kind, a pair, or high card. Straights and flushes do not count in the front row.

Suit order

Many Filipino tables break exact ties by suit, and the order most commonly used locally is Diamonds > Hearts > Spades > Clubs (remembered by the Tagalog “D-H-S-C” order). Other groups ignore suits and call it a tie. Ask first.

A careful, valid arrangement always beats a fouled one. Check your order before you lock in.

Scoring

The most common method is one point per row. Against each opponent you win, lose, or tie the front, middle and back separately. If you win all three rows against one opponent, that is a sweep (often called “scoop”) and usually earns a bonus, commonly doubling the points.

Some tables also pay royalties for strong hands in particular rows, such as a full house in the middle or three of a kind in the front. Royalties are a house rule, so confirm the amounts.

Special or “natural” hands

Some groups recognise special 13-card hands that win automatically, such as a 13-card straight (dragon), six pairs, or all one colour. These vary widely, so treat them as optional extras.

How to arrange your cards: a step-by-step method

1. Find your strongest possible back hand. Look for four of a kind, full houses, flushes, or straights first.
2. Build the middle from what is left. Aim for at least a pair, ideally two pair or better.
3. Put the best leftovers in front. A pair in front is strong; a high Ace in front is decent.
4. Check the order. Back ≥ Middle ≥ Front. If not, rearrange.
5. Compare alternatives. Often there are two or three valid arrangements. Choose the one that gives you the best chance across all three rows, not just the biggest back hand.

A worked example

Suppose you are dealt: A♠ A♦ K♥ K♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♣ 7♥ 6♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥ J♦.

• Back: full house 9♠ 9♦ 9♣ K♥ K♣
• Middle: flush 7♥ 6♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥
• Front: A♠ A♦ J♦ (pair of Aces)

The order is valid (full house beats flush, and a five-card flush beats a front pair). This arrangement gives a full house in back, a flush in the middle, and a pair of Aces in front, which is a very strong all-round arrangement. The lesson: before settling, test whether your big cards can create strong hands in two rows instead of one.

Strategy tips

• Balance beats one monster row. Winning two of three rows usually beats crushing one row and losing two.
• A front pair is valuable. Most players’ front hands are just high cards, so even a small pair often wins.
• Do not foul for greed. A careful, valid arrangement always beats a fouled one.
• Know your table’s bonuses. If sweeps pay double, a safe, balanced arrangement becomes even more valuable.
• Use the full time. Many online versions have a timer. Arrange the back first so you are never left with an unchecked hand when time runs out.

Pusoy online

Online Pusoy tables usually auto-check for fouls and often suggest an arrangement. Treat suggestions as a starting point, not the best answer. If you play for real money, only use sites listed on PAGCOR‘s official registry; our guide to verifying a licensed site explains how.

Worked example 2: choosing between two valid arrangements

Hand dealt: Q♠ Q♥ 8♦ 8♣ 5♠ 5♥ K♦ J♣ 10♥ 9♠ 4♦ 3♣ 2♥. There is no flush, no straight flush and no three of a kind, so you must choose how to use three pairs.

Option 2 is clearly better. Spotting that K-Q-J-10-9 forms a straight turns a weak back hand into a strong one and lets both remaining pairs sit in the middle. Before committing, always scan for straights and flushes hiding across your pairs; beginners often lock in the first arrangement they see.

How strong is “strong enough” for each row?

Experienced players use rough benchmarks for what usually wins each row in a four-player game. These are guidelines from common play, not exact statistics:

Use these to judge where an extra card is worth more. For example, if your back hand is already a full house, moving a kicker to make your front A-high can be worth more than an unnecessary upgrade in the back.

Comparing hands: tie-break basics

• Same hand type: compare the highest relevant card. A pair of Kings beats a pair of Queens; if both have pairs of Kings, compare the next highest card (the kicker).
• Two pair: compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
• Full house: the three-of-a-kind part decides it.
• Flush: compare highest cards one by one.
• Exact ties: resolved by suit order if your table uses it, otherwise a push.

Scoring example with four players

Suppose you play against three opponents with one point per row and a double-point sweep. You win front and back but lose middle against Player 1 (+1 net), sweep Player 2 (+6 with the doubling), and lose all three to Player 3 (−6). Your round total is +1. This shows why a single sweep, for or against, swings results so much, and why fouling your hand is so costly: a foul is effectively a sweep against you by every player.

Pre-reveal checklist

1. Back hand is at least as strong as the middle.
2. Middle hand is at least as strong as the front.
3. No straight or flush is being counted in the front.
4. You checked for a hidden straight or flush across your pairs.
5. You know the table’s sweep and royalty rules.

Written and reviewed by the GTAYA Editorial Team

Our guides are researched from official sources (PAGCOR, BSP, Philippine law) and reviewed before publishing. Rules that vary by table are flagged.

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